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AN APPEAL J FOR UDITH Thursday, October 3 - Wednesday, October 9, 2013
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• Judith, pictured with her grandmother Gracie, needs a specialist tricycle to aid her development
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AN APPEAL to raise money to help a disabled Oxford girl get the vital equipment she needs to keep active has been launched. Ten-year-old Judith Stickings, from Headington, suffered severe birth asphyxia which led to cerebral palsy and visual impairment. She is now awaiting delivery of a therapy tricycle that will enable her to move with greater freedom and exercise as she develops, and her family are working with charity Caudwell Children to raise the money. “Judith’s condition is as a result of her basically dying at birth and being resuscitated,” said mother Gillian. “She had massive oxygen deprivation that damaged her brain, and was in a special care baby unit for the fi rst two weeks of her life.” Over the last year, Judith has taken part in bike accessibility days, which helps disabled children try out different types of bicycles and trikes that suit their needs. Gillian said: “She’d gotten very interested in PC Plum from Balamory, and then suddenly this spring she said ‘I want a bicycle so I can be like PC Plum!’ “The sort of bike she would need was way out of our price
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range, but we applied to Caudwell and they gave us a grant.” “It will help her development, and apart from the exercise and physiotherapy aspects, she can re-enact in her brain that she’s being a policeman and all this sort of thing. It should have huge benefits. “Judith’s one of those people that if she was in a wheelchair and wanted to climb Everest, she’s got that stubborn personality that would get her there. “Once she’s decided she really wants to do something, if you try and make it happen, you’ll really get the best results. “The thing worrying for me is how many hours everyday I’m going to be expected to have to go out with her, as I’m not going to get anything else done!” Caudwell Children have a set a target just short of £2,000 they would like to raise to help fund the tricycle, having raised half of that so far. Trudi Beswick, CEO of Caudwell Children, said: “Specialist therapy tricycles are a vital piece of equipment for children as they enable a greater level of freedom and independence. • Continued on Page 2